This blog is about using ICTs to develop climate change preparedness solutions built around Energy Internet and autonomous eVehicles

Energy Internet and eVehicles Overview

Governments around the world are wrestling with the challenge of how to prepare society for inevitable climate change. To date most people have been focused on how to reduce Green House Gas emissions, but now there is growing recognition that regardless of what we do to mitigate against climate change the planet is going to be significantly warmer in the coming years with all the attendant problems of more frequent droughts, flooding, sever storms, etc. As such we need to invest in solutions that provide a more robust and resilient infrastructure to withstand this environmental onslaught especially for our electrical and telecommunications systems and at the same time reduce our carbon footprint.

Linking renewable energy with high speed Internet using fiber to the home combined with autonomous eVehicles and dynamic charging where vehicle's batteries are charged as it travels along the road, may provide for a whole new "energy Internet" infrastructure for linking small distributed renewable energy sources to users that is far more robust and resilient to survive climate change than today's centralized command and control infrastructure. These new energy architectures will also significantly reduce our carbon footprint. For more details please see:

How to use Green Bond Funds to underwrite costs of new network and energy infrastructure: https://goo.gl/74Bptd

Monday, March 2, 2009

US Department of Energy funding program for Green IT

[The DoE should be applauded for this initiative on Green IT. My only concern is that the program is focused on energy efficiency rather than reducing Co2. As many readers of my blog know, energy efficiency can paradoxically increase energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Energy efficiency in the absence of other policies such as a carbon tax will backfire, as we witnessed from the results of the CAFÉ laws passed by the UC Congress during the last energy crisis in 1972. Specifically targeting CO2 reductions often requires different tools and solutions than those required to improve energy efficiency. Thanks to Rod Wilson for this pointer – BSA]

Hello,

The Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Program has announced it's intention to issue an Information and Communication Technology(ICT) solicitation or request for proposal. You are receiving this notification because of your expertise and experience in the ITC area.The solicitation, termed a "Funding Opportunity Announcement" (FOA), is expected to be released during the mid-March time frame and is expected to be open for a shorter time (possibly as short as one month) than the three or so months customary for ITP.

The Research and Development segment of this solicitation is expected to require a team capable of and experienced in 1) research and development, 2) manufacturing the technology proposed, 3) bringing the technology to the end user through sales and marketing, and 4) serving as an end user to demonstrate the efficacy of the technology proposed.Some organizations may possess more than one of these capabilities.This notification will enable those intending to submit a proposal to start to form complete teams before the solicitation is released. The solicitation will require cost sharing as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The pre-announcement of the Funding Opportunity Announcement may beviewed at https://e-center.doe.gov/doebiz.nsf/d76fbc294818822885256d98006c63b6/0b37b72285cd2c7185257569006d57e6?OpenDocument

[see below]

When released, the FOA will be available for viewing at Grants.gov(http://www.grants.gov) and at the DOE's Industry Interactive Procurement Systems (IIPS) or "e-center" (https://e-center.doe.gov).Applicants are strongly encouraged to register at these sites to receive notification of announcements posted by the DOE Golden Field Office.When the FOA is released, applications will only be received through Grants.gov.

This solicitation results from the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009", popularly known as the stimulus act, which directs the DOE to support research to increase the efficiency of information and communication technology and improve standards.

Multiple mailing lists have been used to disseminate this information.Please accept our apologies if you have received more than one copy of this notification.

There are two broad areas of interest. Each proposal must address only one of these areas of interest. The areas of interest are:

A. Information and Communications Technologies Research & Development For Energy EfficiencyThe energy used by our nation’s vital telecommunications and data centers is growing at an alarming rate. As information technology and communications services continue to slowly converge, the data center and telecommunications industries face increasingly similar challenges to control the power usage of their microprocessors or servers and supporting power and cooling systems. The electricity consumed in data centers and telecom systems is already three percent of the U.S. total and growing rapidly. In the face of growing global energy demand, uncertain energy supplies, and volatile energy prices, innovative solutions are needed to radically advance the energy efficiency of these systems, which represent the engine of the American economy today. Enhanced energy efficiency in the central offices and data centers supporting our information, communications technology (ICT) systems will enhance U.S. energy and economic security.Proposals for research and development in the following areas are sought:1. Equipment Hardware and SoftwareComputing hardware and software are the functioning components of server-based data and telecommunications centers and largely determine power and cooling requirements. Achieving high levels of energy performance will require novel approaches to the design and management of these hardware and software systems. The key theme and approach in this area is to minimize heat generation. Thus, energy will be saved by developing novel systems that generate less heat (i.e., new electronic circuitry which will use less energy by increasing chip output per unit of power used) or are impervious to heat, or by the use optics only. These include, but are not limited to:• Develop all-optical systems to increase energy efficiency.• Advance ultra-low power circuits like multi-phase clock asynchronous circuits to increase energy efficiency• Utilize ultra-efficient nano-electronic circuitry, including nano-based information storage devices, wires and graphene-based systems. The latter is expected to make possible the replacement of silicon in future electronic devices, and may make possible the incorporation of spintronic devices in future server-based ICT systems. • Create hardened electronic equipment which can withstand temperature, humidity and particulate conditions outside the boundary of current generation electronics. Thus server-based systems can operate without air conditioning in environments worldwide, even high temperature environments.

2. CoolingCooling is believed to account for a third of all power consumed by information technology, telecommunications, and data centers. The cooling of server-based telephone central offices and data centers can be made more energy efficient by the following, but are not limited to: • Create advanced component level cooling technologies• Develop mitigation techniques to reduce the probability of failures associated with “free” cooling. • Identify and create effective uses of low-quality waste heat generated.

3. Power Supply EfficiencyData and telecommunications centers require large quantities of electricity to be conditioned, converted, and delivered to the diverse components, including servers, switches, routers, and hard drives. The power supply chain can include electricity purchased from the grid, backup power, onsite-power generation, switchgear, UPS’s, power distribution systems, rack-level and unit-level power supplies, and power management technology. Traditionally, data centers have used AC power distribution systems and telecommunications centers have used DC power. The R&D proposals for power supply energy efficiency may address the following, but are not limited to:

• Research and develop high-efficiency power conversion circuits which optimize server-based data center and telecom equipment. • Develop special purpose chips, multiphase clocking, ternery/other processing modes, lower-power chips (noted in part under hardware and software).• Research the use of optical switching to eliminate many conversion steps & losses (Also noted under hardware and software).• Conduct RD&D of superconducting components.• Research the use of piezoelectrics to incorporate into micro-mechanical air conditioning for point of load cooling• Efficiency optimized control systems for power conversion.

Each proposal MUST include organizational participants capable of and experienced in 1) research, 2) manufacturing the technology proposed, 3) bringing the technology to the end user through sales and marketing, and 4) serving as an end user of the technology proposed.

Each R&D project will be funded for maximum of three (2) years, with one or more budget periods.

B. Demonstration and Field Testing of Highly Energy Efficient and Pre-commercial Technologies in Data Center or Telecommunication Facilities

DOE is interested in field testing and independently validating the energy performance of pre-commercial technologies that show the potential to improve energy efficiency while not compromising data center or telecommunication reliability. The demonstration sites will be early adopters of the technologies and must be willing to share information about the cost-benefit results of the field-tested technology projects so as to encourage more rapid market acceptance of the technologies. Accordingly, DOE will work with the demonstration teams to develop case studies of the technology projects using measured and verified results so as to reduce market and technology risk.

The applicants must show a plan for the technologies to be demonstrated and the adoption of other best energy management practices to improve a data/ telecommunication center’s energy intensity performance (energy consumed for a given level of useful computational work) by more than 25 percent and have a Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency (DCIE = IT energy / total facility energy usage) of 0.80 or greater.

New and innovative technologies that are not currently widely commercial and that improve the following parts of a data center or telecommunication facility will be considered for DOE’s cost sharing:

• Information Technology (IT) Optimization. This could include, but not be limited to: server virtualization, data storage and networking optimization schemes, methods in connecting multiple data centers (e.g., “cloud computing”) or any technology and IT optimization system that will result in less heat generation for a given amount computational work load.• Energy efficient electrical power distribution and supply. This could include, but not be limited to, more energy efficient electrical power supply to the IT or telecommunication equipment through new power transformation and back up technologies by reducing overall power distribution supply and IT system energy losses.• Energy efficient cooling schemes. This could include, but not be limited to, more energy efficient cooling of IT/telecommunication equipment by more optimally delivering and/or controlling cooling to IT equipment with, for example, wireless sensors or IT systems that require less cooling while not compromising equipment lifetime.• Distributed generation or alternative power technologies. New innovative combined heat and power or renewable energy technologies that are optimized for data center/telecommunication facilities and reduce overall source energy consumption and carbon emissions are desired to be demonstrated.

Technology demonstrations must be able to be widely replicated in other data centers throughout the United States and not be niche applications.

The demonstration teams must be willing to cooperate with DOE to perform an independent performance validation and to create case studies. Demonstration teams must also be willing to conduct public tours of the demonstration site(s) for up to 2 years after the technology demonstration case study is prepared.

Partnerships between the technology development teams and Federal facilities building new or retrofitting existing data center/telecommunication facilities, as well as other host sites, should be formed.

C. General Information

DOE envisions awarding multiple financial assistance/grant awards on a competitive basis. These awards will require cost shares in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Details about cost share requirements will be included in the FOA along with the details of technical areas of interest, proposal preparation instructions and application merit review and evaluation criteria.

DOE plans to release the FOA in March, 2009. The FOA will be available for viewing at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) and at the DOE’s Industry Interactive Procurement Systems (IIPS) or “e-center” (https://e-center.doe.gov). Applicants are strongly encouraged to register at these sites to receive notification of announcements posted by DOE Golden Field Office. When the FOA is released, applications will only be received through Grants.gov.

In anticipation of the FOA being released shortly, there are several one-time actions prospective applicants must complete in order to submit an application through Grants.gov (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), register with FedConnect, register with the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). Due to the likelihood of a short response period, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure these requirements have been met. Detailed information on the DUNS and CCR process is presented at http://www.grants.gov/GetStarted. Applicants may use the Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist at http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.pdf to guide them through the process. Designating an E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important steps in the CCR registration process. Applicants not yet registered with CCR and Grants.gov, should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements. It is strongly recommended that the process be started as soon as possible.

If your organization does not have a DUNS number, go to the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) online registration located at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do to receive a number free of charge or call 1-866-705-5711.

The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the Federal Government's trading partners in support of the contract award, grants, and the electronic payment processes.

To see if your organization is already registered with CCR, check the CCR website located at http://www.bpn.gov/ccrinq/scripts/search.asp. You will be able to search CCR by using either your organization’s DUNS Number or legal business name. If your organization is already registered, take note of who is listed as the organization’s E-Business Point of Contact (E-Business POC). This person will be responsible for registering in FedConnect.

To register in FedConnect, go to https://www.FedConnect.net/FedConnect/ or contact the FedConnect Helpdesk at support@fedconnect.net Please note that the system functionality of FedConnect requires organizations to be registered with the CCR before registering with FedConnect. (FedConnect ‘Quick Start Guide’:https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf )

If your organization is not registered in CCR, go to the CCR Website at www.ccr.gov and select the "Start New Registration" option to begin the registration process. Please allow up to 7 days for processing of your registration which includes the IRS validating your Employer Identification Number (Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security Number). The organization’s E-Business POC will be designated during the CCR registrations process. A special Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) is established as a password to verify the E-Business POC.

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About Me

Bill St. Arnaud is a consultant and research engineer who works with clients around the world on a variety of subjects such as next generation Internet networks and developing practical solutions to reduce CO2 emissions such as free broadband and dynamic charging of eVehicles. He is an author of many papers and articles on these topics and is a frequent guest speaker. For more details on my research interests see https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bill_Arnaud